i66 LOSS, BY FIRE, OF THE PRINCE.' 
Upon this information the first lieutenant, who kept the 
keys of the hold, opened all the hatchways to discover the 
cause of an accident, the slightest suspicion of which frequent- 
ly causes the most intrepid to tremble. The captain, who was 
at dinner in the great cabin, Avent upon deck and gave orders 
for extinguishing the fire. I had already directed several sails 
to be thrown overboard and the hatchways to be covered with 
them, hoping by these means to prevent the air from penetrat- 
ing into the hold. I had even proposed, for the greater secu- 
rity, to let in the water between decks to the height of a foot ; 
but the air, which had already obtained a free passage through 
the openings of the hatchways produced a very thick smoke 
that issued forth in abundance, and the fire continued gradu- 
ally to gain ground. 
The captain ordered sixty or eighty of the soldiers under 
arms to restrain the crew and prevent the confusion likely to 
ensue in such a critical moment. These precautions were 
seconded by M. de la Touche with his usual fortitude and 
prudence. That hero deserved a better opportunity of signa<* 
lizing himself, and had destined his soldiers for other opera- 
tions more useful to his country. 
All hands Avere now employed in getting water ; not only 
the buckets, but likewise the pumps wpve kept at work, anrl 
pipes were carried from them into the hold ; even the water 
in the jars were emptied out. The rapidity of the fire, how- 
ever, baffled our efforts and augmented the general conster- 
nation. 
The captain had already ordered the yawl to be hoisted 
overboard, merely because it was in the way ; four men, 
among whom was the boatswain, took possession of it. They 
had no oars, but called out for some, when three sailors jumped 
overboard and carried them Avhat they stood so much in nee4 
of. These fortunate fugitives were required to return ; they 
cried out that they had no rudder, and desired a rope to be 
thrown them ; perceiving that the progress of the flames left 
them no other resource, they endeavored to remove to a dis- 
tance from the ship, which passed them in consequence of a 
breeze that sprung up. 
All hands were still busy on board ; the impossibility of 
escaping seemed to increase the courage of the men. The 
master boldly ventured down into the hold, but the heat obli- 
ged him to return ; he would have been burnt if a great quan- 
tity of water had not been thrown over him. Immediately 
afterward the flames were seen to issue with impetuosity 
